Anyone been to the Harrogate show yet ?

Anyone been yet ? What did you think of it ?

I'm hoping to get there tomorrow for my first visit.

Going tomorrow 😃

I will be there, wouldn't miss it.

graham.

Some of us are meeting up for a natter by the big window (opposite the main entrance) at noon on Saturday. Always nice to put faces to names so if you fancy taking a break from spending I will see you there.

Cheers Derek.

Ok thanks, I'll look out for forum members

I went there today, and plan to go on Saturday as well. The show was quite good, pretty much the same as last year. I didn't see College Engineering Suplies there, so not sure if I missed them or they are not attending this year.

I bought a ticket in advance online this year, to beat the queues as it suggested on the website. But so had many others and as there was only one entrance for all visitors, other than traders and exhibitors, there was still quite a queue.

I went to look at an item on one traders stall with a view to buying, only to be told it had been bought by another trader the day before and was now on their stall at a higher price, you've got to be quick in this game.

Anyway, it's a great show with plenty to see and squander your cash on, well worth a visit.

Off in a bit, hoping to sign off mEW 229 before I go, but can't hang on too long....

Neil

I was there on Friday and having hunted high and low I finally found the Arc stand to watch John Stephenson sharpen several cutters that the small crowd had brought along.

It was a much better engineered piece of equipment than I had expected, the results were sharp tools with the minimum of effort and had I not already got a bench size T&C grinder, much modified for my needs, I would have been serioisly tempted to think about ordering one.

Being local, I am a veteran of this show, having missed just one in all the years it has run and as usual it was a fine exhibition, although there wasn't an outstanding exhibit that caught my eye this time. I would say it was better attended this year too, certainly it was crowded and stuff was moving off stalls at great speed..

Well worth attending

Brian

I went on Friday, it was my first and last visit. There were a large number of boats and planes on show and built to a high standard in both finish and detail. Unfortunately that is not what I had gone to see. As for the club stands, there are only so many times you can look at a Stewart 10 engine. Like lathejack I couldn't find College Engineering or Noggin End so my copious shopping list for material was redundant. Next year it will be the Midlands show only.

Eric and Lathejack,

You gave up too easily, I couldn't find the Arc stand either but the front desk were very helpful to directing me.

Brian

Went yesterday ( Friday ). This being my first visit to a model engineering show.

Had a shopping list of stuff to buy and was also looking for a project to run parallel with my beam engine.

I have no interest in steam locos or basic model boats with exception of model power boats which I raced for many years. However there was plenty of other models well worth seeing. I love the traction engines.

Managed to get about 60% of tooling I was looking for plus some that I wasn't in particular looking for.

So how many people buy things on the " just in case I need it basis" or is it just me and the mate I was with?

it was good to see some engines completed.

You have to go the first day for any bargains or unusual pieces that you don't see often as they were going quite quick. Managed to sort out my parallel project I think ( about 95% sure ).

Makes a pleasant change not getting tanned for high car parking charges like at the NEC.

Chester machines was a poor offering considering the great display of equipment they have at base. Fell well short of the Warco stand.

First impression was on the whole a great experience for £10 entry.

Edited By Malc Broadbent on 09/05/2015 11:35:50

Where was/is the Arc stand? I never found it or recognised I'd found it.

It was a few years since I'd been so it was good to be able to go to the trade stands to look for specific items and have a good look at them for quality etc, I did buy a few items but there are others such as a new milling vice I didn't want to buy at the show, especially as the prices are the same as I can get on line from the same supplier.

I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more tooling items on the club stands, it did seem to be mainly models of various things, nothing wrong with that but I do like to look at tooling that others have made.

Steve

Opposite the Bradford MES stand in Hall 1, crammed in against a roof pillar next to the Gauge 0 steam rail track. It is only the size of two desks banged together..

The sign is at head height and visible only on the B-MES side

Brian

Good show, a bit crowded for my taste. Catering areas grossly crowded, did not eat or drink for 5 hours

Frank

Been today, four years since I last visited, seemed much the same. I can never understand the moaning of people that visit? What are you expecting from a diminishing hobby? I enjoyed every minute and the conversations that I had with all kinds of people.

I especially enjoyed speaking to the flash steam boat man, sorry missed your name, who is really proud of his own achievements in the tethered boat thingy.

Chatted with the Blackgates owner who is alway friendly and polite, she informed me that now is a good time to buy silver solder which was just what I needed to know for my sweet pea boiler build. No she did not see me arriving! 😉

Levels of models on show was very varied, my interest being Traction engines. Some nice models running outside, some were very  grimes though.

We spent a lot of time watching the radio control wagons, not my thing but interesting.

For a tenner cost it was better value than watching 22 men kick a ball around😜

Bri

Edited By Boiler Bri on 09/05/2015 17:13:57

Working all weekend .

Would have loved to go again as club I belong to have stand there so if passing say hi to guys on the spenborough stand for me pls.

Mick

I also have to add that I ran out of cash. Yorkshire model engineering supplies let me walk away with £80 quids worth of tackle with out paying on the proviso that I send them a cheque. Beat that if you can what trust. They do not know me from Adam! 😀

Bri

Just in case anyone didn't get that, Mr Stevenson is demonstrating the Cutter sharpening machine in Hall one - Go in the main entrance, turn right and go through the Restaurant bit and keep on going until you come to the end of the stalls selling stuff, narrowly miss Mr Wyatt (rushing along and very much On-A-Mission) and look to your right. Don't forget to take some cutters with you and you can then stick a few bob in John's Beer Money tin (it has the Heart Charity logo on it, but looks can be deceiving!)

We looked at the machine and John kindly sharpened a couple of cutters I had taken along. The general agreement was a club or group of people should club together and buy one for everyone's benefit if you couldn't justify buying one for yourself. A great piece of kit and I hope to be in a position to needing one sooner rather than later. If something like this could be built to a budget that would sharpen drills, I would buy it now, needing to sharpen drills has caused me to build a full blown tool and cutter grinder. This machine is fast though, with very minimal setup time.

Bought a good number of dovetail and other cutters in carbide and a few oddball thread dies. I also negotiated a price for a large, nicely made, rear toolpost in hardened steel. Mass is really important in a toolpost (I learned to my cost). Always nice to see some of the traders and I would offer a comment with regard to the selection of tools/machines on display on the Chester stand.

I have come to know Tony quite well now and he has put an enormous amount of effort into promoting the Chester Hobby part of the business. He spends a lot of time preparing for the various shows and they only have one large van so really, a stand with twenty or thirty machines on it is out of the question. A good deal of the time, Tony is not getting paid "overtime" or any extra for the hours he puts in and he does it because he really enjoys talking to everybody and he believes in the Chester brand. A good deal has changed since Tony took the lead with this part of the business and there has been a major attitude shift back at base largely due to his efforts. I personally have a great deal of time for him.

There were a couple of things I didn't buy which were on my list but I always have a strict budget and really try to stick to it otherwise you can - all too easily - get carried away and then you are going to be coming home needing a remortgage! I also try to buy only stuff I need or have a use for, again - not easy if you like the preciousssss

great day out with great people, what's not to like?

graham.

Was in Harrogate this morning, bought some 1.5mm silver brazing rod, needed CPR after being told the price!!

Steve